Peter Force 1843 copy of the Declaration of Independence brings $10,620 at auctionA high-grade example of the Peter Force 1843 printing of the Declaration of Independence sold for $10,620 at an auction held Oct. 20-23 by Archives International Auctions in New York and New Jersey.

News-Antique.com - Nov 06,2012 - (FORT LEE, N.J.) – A high-grade example of the Peter Force 1843 printing of the Declaration of Independence, taken from the J.W. Stone printing plate originally made in 1823, sold for $10,620, and a pair of Edison stock tickers, both circa 1900-1910, brought $8,260 and $5,900 at a three-session auction held Oct. 20, 21 and 23 by Archives International Auctions.

The Oct. 20 session was held at the Museum of American Finance in New York City, where Archives International Auctions had been selected to once again serve as the official auctioneer for the second annual Wall Street Collectors Bourse (Oct. 18-20). The Oct. 21 and 23 sessions were conducted at Archives International Auctions’ offices, located in Fort Lee, N.J.

Over the three days, over 2,500 lots of U.S. and worldwide banknotes, scripophily (the collecting of stock certificates) and security printing ephemera were offered in an auction that grossed $554,375. Sessions one and two featured 1,728 lots, of which 738 sold (43 percent) at $228 per lot, average. Session three had 805 lots, 535 sold (66.5 percent, $721 per lot, average).

“All three sessions had their high points,’ said Dr. Robert Schwartz of Archives International Auctions, “but the Tuesday banknote auction (Oct. 23) was exciting and virtually non-stop from the moment it started, with numerous price records broken, as well as non-stop bidding action from phone, Internet and live session attendees. Overall it was a great auction.”

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.

Worldwide bank notes featured a spectacular group of seven different Reserve Bank of India specimens from the late 1960s to the early ‘70s that had never before been offered at public auction ($2,200-$4,400 ea.); a Dominion of Canada 1911 $1 banknote, extra fine ($1,121); and a set of “Devil’s Head” specimens in denominations ranging from $1 to $100 ($737-$2,700 ea.).

China proved popular, with 30 of 31 lots selling for exceptional prices. A pair of $100 Chinese banknote specimens commanded $6,549 and $5,310. A 1955 1-Pound specimen from Cyprus hammered for $1,770; a 1932 Bank of Danzig specimen went for $3,068; and a 1920 East African Currency Board 1-Florin banknote, King George V, changed hands for $3,835.